Felton Covered Bridge

The tallest covered bridge in the United States was built in 1892 in Felton.

The tallest covered bridge in the United States is located in Felton, north of Santa Cruz. At eighty feet long, thirty-five feet tall, and employing a brown truss structural system, the bridge was built in 1892 and is believed by some to now be haunted. A brown truss bridge uses diagonal cross compression members connect to horizontal top and bottom stringers.

For forty-five years it operated as the main entry point into Felton, but was no longer used as of 1937, becoming simply a pedestrian bridge. A park has been established around the bridge, called the Covered Bridge Park. The bridge crosses the San Lorenzo River and its architect was Pratt Warren. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and after being damaged in 1982, under went a major restoration in 1987.

Aubrey Graves, writer and ghost hunter, believes that the bridge is haunted by at least one spirit, the ghost of a woman who was killed on the bridge when she was accused of being a witch.

Regardless, the bridge is very impressive and worth a quick look and stroll across. The park additionally has a nice playground area, as well as picnic tables, a volleyball court, and a decent grass area. If you turn to the left after crossing the bridge you'll come to some horse stables. But by far, the main reason to visit the park is absolutely the historic covered bridge.